Officers with the Gallipolis Police Department collect cash during last year’s hat drive. The 2012 hat drive will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Walmart intersections on Eastern Avenue in Gallipolis. Funds collected during the day will go to the Gallipolis Lions Club and will be used to purchase gifts for children in need this Christmas.

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GALLIPOLIS — Officers with the Gallipolis Police Department will be out in force this Saturday afternoon in an effort to raise money for a worthy cause this holiday season.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 1 officers will be conducting their Fifth Annual Hat Drive and will be collecting donations at the Walmart intersections on Eastern Avenue — donations that will go toward buying gifts for children this Christmas.

According to Lt. Matt Champlin of the Gallipolis Police Department, officers will be on foot in the roadway accepting cash donations in their uniform hats.

This year, the money will again be used by the Gallipolis Lions Club to purchase Christmas gifts for children in the Gallia County area who may otherwise go without this holiday season.

This marks the fifth year for the hat drive and the fourth year that the police department has teamed up with the Gallipolis Lions Club to provide the outreach to the children of the community.

“Even though we facilitate this outreach with the hat drive, it would never be a success without the generous donations from the community. For this reason, we would like to thank each and every person who has donated over the past five years,” Champlin stated.

Champlin further advised that individuals who would like to give, but will not be in the area at the times announced, can drop off their donations in a sealed envelope at the police department through Wednesday, December 5. Donations will be accepted on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the police department located at 518 Second Avenue. Envelopes should be marked with the words, “police hat drive.”

“We at the police department would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone to drive safely and wear their safety belts this holiday season,” Champlin commented. “From our families to yours, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”